Shoe tree



June 12, 1945. A. SUSZHOLZ 2,378,337-

SHOE TREE Filed June 4. 1943 mllll In n w INVENTOR.

BY 6' M44152,

Arroum Patented June 12, 1945 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT F FICE 2,378,331 v sHoE TREE Armin Suszholz, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 4, 1943, Serial No. 489,631

2Claims. (o1. 12-12s.1

This invention relates to shoe trees, and has for its general object to produce an article of this character which is markedly simple in construction and economical of production and which can be readily and conveniently adjustable as to length and which, when not in use, can be folded into a compact space. I I

I accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other and more limited objects which will be set forth hereinafter, in and through the constructionthe same in its folded position; and Fig. 3' a detail in section corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Describing the parts by reference characters, A denotes. enerally the front or toe member of the shoe tree and B denotes generally'the rear or heel member of the same. The front or toe member is of suitable shape to enable it to fit within the vamp of a shoe and can be made of any suitable material, preferably of hard wood; As shown herein, it may be provided with openings ID for the purpose of lightening its weight. Throughout the major portion of its extent from front to rear, the member A is hollow, being pro,- vided with the cavity ll, shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, the walls surrounding the cavity being of sufiicient thickness to afford the requisite strength.

The rear end l2 of the member A is solid, except for the slot 13 extending thereinto from the central portion of the rear end thereof and the countersunk bore M, M The slot l3 receives therein the narrow, blade-like end of a threaded bolt Hi. This narrow blade-like end is provided with an aperture l5 for the reception of a pivot bolt l6 which-extends therethrough and which is threaded into the inner end'portion of the bore 14, the outer end of the pivot bolt being slotted, as shown at Ili for the reception of a screw driver which can be inserted into the enlarged countersunk portion l4 of the said bore.

the ferrule, the length of the threaded portion 15 and of the bore l8 being sufficient to accommodate all desirable variations in length of the shoe tree when the front and rear members are in their extended positions.

The rear end of the body of the member B is spherical, providinga rounded portion for engagement with the, heel portion of a shoe, and is provided with holes whereinto the finger of the operatormay be inserted, thereby to facilitate the removal of the member B from the shoe in which the tree is inserted. These holes may be provided in a single bore l9, or if desired, also in the bore 20, which intersects the former bore at right angles. Between the rear enlarged portion of the member B and the ferrule I1, the body of said member is provided with spaced longitudinally extending ribs 2 I, the said ribs providing means'whereby the member may be conveniently rotated, thereby to vary the effective length of the shoe tree of which it forms a part, The bores l9 and 20 not only contribute to the lightness of the rear 01 heel member B, but also provide means for permitting the ready insertion of thismember into and its removal from the heel portion of a shoe as well as providing means whereby a preliminary adjustment may be given to the heel member when the shoe tree is inserted within the shoe. As stated hereinbefore,

the rear portion of the member B is substantially ber from the inner surface of the heel of the shoe preliminarily to removing the entire tree from the shoe.

When not in use, the rear or heel member may be folded within the-cavity H in the front or toe member to enable the tree to occupy a comparatively small space, as for shipping purposes. 1

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim is: Y v

1. A tree for shoes comprising a toe member and a, heel member, the rear of the toe member having a, slot extending thereinto from the rear end thereof and the heel member comprising a, body having a heel-engaging portion and a bolt threaded into said body and having a narrowed front portion extendingtherebeyond into the said slot and provided with an aperture therethrough, and a pivot bolt mounted in the rear portion of the toe member and extending through the said aperture, the rear end of the heel-engaging portion being spherical in shape and provided with angularly spaced apertures extending thereinto for the reception of the finger of the operator.

2. A tree for shoes comprising a toe member and a heel member, the rear of the toe member having a slot extending thereinto from the rear end thereof and the rear of the heel member comprising a body having a heel-engaging portion at the rear thereof and an internally threaded ferrule at the front end thereof, and a bolt ing rearwardly into an elongated bore provided therefor in the said body, the said bolt being provided with a narrowed front portion extending into the said slot and provided with an aperture therethrough, and a pivot bolt mounted in the rear portion of the toe member and extending through the said aperture, the heel member being provided with longitudinally extending angularly spaced ribs providing means for imparting relative rotary movement between the said heel member and; the bolt mounted in the body thereof and the rear end of the heel-em gaging portion being rounded and provided with angularly spaced apertures extending thereinto having an elongated threaded port meshing 15 torthe reception of the finger of the operator.

with the threads in the said ferrule and extend- ARMIN SUSZHOLZ. 

